Ventilation regulating device

ABSTRACT

A regulator for the optimal ventilation of any enclosed space, comprising an air passage formed in an annular casing, a portion of which passage, at one end of the annulus, is closed by a partition, the other portion of which passage is sealable by means of a control valve in the shape of a disc having through passages, the disc being coaxial with the casing and rotatably mounted therein, the ventilation being effected by making use of the difference in air pressure on both sides of the passage.

United States Patent Rosendale Aug. 1, 1972 54] VENTILATION REGULATINGDEVICE [72] Inventor: Douwe Rosendale, 510 Hengelslaan,

The Hague, Netherlands [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 67,803

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.65,309, Aug. 19, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No.783,939, Dec. 16, 1968, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 18, 1967 Netherlands..6717235' [52] US. Cl ...98/117, 137/499 [51] Int. Cl ..F23l 13/00 [58]Field of Search ..98/1 17; 137/499, 504

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,820 10/184-9 Barnard..137/499 917,300 4/1909 Hughes 1 37/499 2,911,002 11/1959 Larkfeldt..137/499 3,556,134 1/1971 Jardinier ..137/499 Primary Examiner-MeyerPerlin Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [5 7] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 8Drawing Figures PATENTEDMJI; 1 1912 1680.471

SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR. Dam: Rosenda/e.

PATENTEDMIG H972 3580.471

Joan z fisi/vzzaf WW/$41M ATTORNEYS VENTILATION REGULATING DEVICE Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 65,309,filed Aug. 19, 1970, now abandoned, which is a continua-tion ofapplication Ser. No. 783,939, filed Dec. l6, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aventilation regulator of the type comprising an air passage formed in anannular casing, a portion of which passage at one end of the annulusbeing closed by a partition, the other portion being sealable by meansof a disc-like element having closed sections. The remaining portion ofthe disc-like element consists of separated vanes or blades. Thedisc-like element is coaxial with the casing and rotatably mountedtherein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of this type whichpermits an optimal regulation, for example of the ventilation of a roomor similar enclosed space, or of the passage of other fluids, by merelyutilizing in the main the difference in fluid pressure on both sides ofthe air passage, and thereby to avoid such adverse phenomena as undulylow reactivity and more especially draught and objectionable rattlingoccurring in the known ventilation regulators. Yet the device accordingto this invention can be manufactured at low cost and does not requiremuch room.

To this effect a ventilating device of this type according to theinvention, is characterized by a control valve in the form of a circulardisc capable of swinging coaxially between end stops in the casing, onehalf of which disc, extending over approximately 180, is closed, saiddisc further comprising a plurality of sector-shaped blades, the centralportions of which are turned at a slight angle relative to the planedefined by said firstmentioned disc half, the arrangement of said bladesbeing such that their axial projections on the said plane together coverthe other disc half at least substantially, there being connected tosaid disc adjustable means affecting the activity of the thrust of theair passing through the passage on the positions of the control valve.

Thus a minimum permissible construction depth in the order of a fewcentimeters only will be sufficient. The device readily responds to thepressure differences prevailing on both sides of the annular casing, andis widely adaptable to greatly varying working conditions. Also, in thefarthest closed position of the disc, i.e., the position in which allblades of the disc are behind the division plate, as seen in axialdirection of the casing, the effect of the thrust of the fluid flow,which in this position is forcedly deflected beyond the division platein a direction transversely of the axis of the casing, on the bladesturns out to be sufiicient for the valve to be retained in thatposition.

The adjustable sealing plate allows of a simple and easy control of thepassage in the annular casing according as the circumstances, and caneven be used to seal off the passage completely.

According to a typical embodiment of this invention the inner winding ofa helical spring can be clamped about a hub of the control valve, theouter end of which spring abuts against a stop in an accommodating spacefor the helical spring in a central bearing part connected with thedivision plate and rotatively adjustable in a bearing ring fixed to saidplate and having said central bearing part extending therethrough, andthis to vary the tension of the helical spring.

By slightly turning the end of the bearing part extending through thebearing ring of the division plate, the helical spring can be tensionedto a greater or less extent. As a result of the cooperation between theouter end of the helical spring and the bearing part through theintermediary of a stop, the assembly of the helical spring can berealized in a simple manner and the spring can be readily brought to thedesired pretension. Besides the helical spring can be easily replaced,if so desired.

It is a structural advantage that, according to this invention, a fixingspring secured to the division plate is active upon a row of teeth atthe circumference of the rotative bearing part for the control valve. Inaddition, the fixing mechanism is almost entirely hidden from sightbehind said division plate.

According to a further embodiment of this invention, the control valvemay be provided, in this construction or in place of the helical springmechanism, with a radially adjustable out-of-balance weight and with atrack, spaced from the shaft of the control valve, for an outof-balanceball enclosed within said track, and this in particular when uses areconcerned in which during operation the shaft is always in a horizontalposition.

While the weight is easily accessible according to the arrangement andthe working conditions, for example from the side of the control valveaway from the division plate, the ball ensures, by virtue of a suitablearrangement of the ball track, that the farthest closed position of thecontrol valve is not a so-called dead center position.

In addition to, or possibly in place of the adjustable weight, thecontrol valve may, of course, also be effected by suitably arranged,magnetically operative provisions.

In another embodiment, there is provided a housing in the shape of aring which on one end is provided with a stationary partition closingapproximately half of the passage through such housing and a controlmember having an open portion and a closed portion and arranged forrotation coaxially with said ring by the side of said partition.

In the first described embodiment of this invention, the control memberis manually adjustable, for which frictional forces have to be overcomeat the point where the control member is connected with the housing. Inthat construction, the stationary partition is of substantiallysemi-circular shape. To obtain the desired passage area, thesubstantially semi-circular control member can be swung in full or inpart behind the partition.

In this second embodiment there is a ventilator of the kind described inthe opening paragraph of this specification, in which the area ofpassage through the housing is also automatically decreased according tothe overpressure prevailing at one end of the housing relative to thatat the other end.

To this end, it is proposed, in such a ventilator, that said controlmember is journalled for free rotation, is provided with inclined bladesseparated by slits and is connected with means exerting a force on it,the arrangement being such that .the control member as sumes an angularposition against the action of said force, depending on air currentpressure resulting from overpressure, acting on the blades on one end ofthe housing, in which position the slitted portion of the control membercomes to lie at least partially behind the closed partition portion.

Preferably, said force-exerting means is an out-ofbalance weightaccommodated in a receptacle of the control member.

There is thus produced an extremely simple, compact ventilator, whichrapidly and automatically reacts to fluctuating pressure situations, andmoreover, can easily and cheaply be manufactured.

The size of the out-of-balance weight can be selected to suit particularcases of use. Instead, it is also possible, with a given minimumout-of-balance weight, to add one or more additional out-of-balanceweights.

According to a further elaboration of the principle according to thisembodiment of the invention, the successive blades of the control membermay be disposed in at least substantially overlapping relationship asviewed in axial direction, that is to say, that the projections of theslits between the successive blades, on the plane perpendicular to theaxis of rotation, have a width approaching zero value.

According to an advantage of this embodiment of the invention, thecontrol member may be subdivided into a plurality of sectors each havingan equal number of blades, the successive blades of pairs of oppositesectors being interconnected by imperforate cross-walls, and the bladesof the intermediate sectors having the open passage-slits formed betweenthem.

In a preferred form of this embodiment according to the invention, thepartition over the non-closed half may be constituted by at least onepair of portions extending over diametrically opposite circle sectorsand each consisting of a plurality of concentric ring segments orientedat an angle to the axis of the housing.

According to a further feature of the invention, said ring-segments atdiametrically opposite positions may be inclined in the same direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In illustration of this invention, theembodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the device, as seen from the room;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line IIII in FIG. 1, withelevational view;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the control valve;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line IV- IV in FIG. 3, withelevational view of the control valve;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation of a ventilator accordingto the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view from the right in FIG. 5 of the control member;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view on the line VII-VII ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view from the left in FIG. 5 of the housing and showing thepartition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT lar plastic casing 1 havingmounted thereon, at the front facing the room, a division plate 2 in theform of a lid sealing the lower half of the passage area in said casing.At the opposite end of the casing 1, there is mounted in the passage agridiron 3. Reference numeral 4 generally stands for a substantiallydisc-shaped control valve. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the lowerhalf 5 of the disc is entirely closed and the upper half consists of aplurality of sector-shaped blades 6, the central portions of which aredisplaced with respect to the plane defined by the lower half of thedisc. The projections of the blades on the said plane are contiguouswith each other without any interruption. The control valve 4 is furtherprovided with a hub 7 which has a shaft 8 extending therethrough and somounted therein as to be locked against rotation, one end of said shaftbeing mounted for rotation in a central bearing part of the gridiron 3,the other end in a separate cylindrical bearing part 9 which fitsrotatively in a bearing ring 10 formed on the plate 2. Projecting fromthe side of the bearing ring 10 away from the room is a row of teeth 11formed on the bearing part 9, with which teeth the suitably formed endsof the two legs of an essentially V- shaped spring 12 are in engagement,said spring being attached to the plate 2 adjacent 13. By engagement ofa suitable key into three boxes 14 in the end face of the bearing part 9coming into view, said bearing part can be rotated for the purpose asdescribed herebelow.

Behind the row of teeth 1 l, the outer circumferential portion of thebearing part 9 is provided with a groove 15 accommodating the interioredge portion of a semicircular disc-like sealing plate 16 positioned, inthe condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, behind the plate 2. The outercircumferential edge of the sealing plate 16 is accommodated in acircular inner circumferential groove 17 of the casing, formed by amarginal recess in the inside wall of the casing 1 directly behind theplate 2. Provided about the upper half of the casing, on the side of theroom, is a frame 18 with an outer circumferential groove 19. Passedthrough this groove is a pull cord 20 which is attached to the free endof an arm 21 fixed to the sealing plate 16 and extending, as may appearfrom FIG. 1, above the plate 2 and, with a hooked end portion, in frontof the opening of the groove 19. By means of the cord 20, the sealingplate can be rotated from its open position, shown in FIG. 1, into theupper half of the casing, which is cleared by the plate 2, the grooves15 and 17 functioning as guides for the plate.

The head of the bearing part 9, away from the room, has a circular space22 for accommodating a helical spring 23, the inner winding of which isclamped about the left-hand end, as seen in FIG. 2, of the shaft 8, andthe outwardly curved, hooked end of the outer winding abuts against astop, not shown in the drawings, at the outer circumference of theaccommodation 22. By rotation of the bearing part 9 by means of the saidkey, the outer winding of the helical spring, upon assembly, can bepositioned against the stop in the accommodating space and tensioned.The pre-tension of the helical spring to be set in this way depends onthe local situation and conditions under which the ventilating devicemust work. It will be understood that the pre-tension will act on thecontrol valve 4 in a rotary sense opposite to a current of air acting onthe blades 6 in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 2), so that saidcontrol valve can adjust itself rotatively about its shaft 8 accordingto the intensity of the air current.

Projecting from the central bearing part of the gridiron 3 into thecasing is a sleeve 24 substantially enclosing the hub 7 and forming anend abutment at 25 for the stops, not shown, on the hub 7 for the twoextreme positions of rotation to be occupied by the control valve 4. Oneof these extreme positions is the position shown in FIG. 1, the otherone the position in which the valve has turned through substantially 180and the blades 6 have arrived behind the plate 2. In this position, too,a strong air current may yet be active on the blades in the direction ofthe arrow A in FIG. 2, because the air current is curved down over theupper edge of the plate 2.

As may appear from FIGS. 3 and 4, the closed half of the valve isfurther provided with a vertical slot 27 along which an out-of-balanceweight 28 for the control valve can be fixed by a clamping screw 29.

Also, provided at the bottom of the closed half 5 of the control valveis a channel-like accommodation track of a cross-sectional shape asshown in FIG. 3, and more clearly in FIG. 4. Especially in the absenceof the helical spring 23 described hereinbefore, or in the case of adefective spring when the latter is actually used, a ball 31 movable insaid track 30 avoids a dead center position of the valve 4.

It will be obvious that as a result of the adjustment of the sealingplate 16 by means of a cord 20, the regulation of the pre-tensionexerted by the helical spring 22 on the control valve, and theadjustability of the radial distance of the weight 28 relative to theaxis of the control valve by means of the set screw 29, the ventilatingdevice according to this invention is very widely adaptable to all kindsof working conditions greatly varying in each individual case.

The embodiment shown relates to the use of the instant device in asuitable opening in a window pane or wall panel 32 (FIG. 2), theattachment being effected by means of a two-part counterframe 34 fixedby screws 33.

The device according to this invention may be typically applied to aventilating system for a building with a vertical shaft, at the top ofwhich a fan is operative, and with horizontal branches in the variousstories and rooms.

The device according to this invention is further typically used for theself-regulation of the ventilation in vehicles.

Referring to the drawings of the second embodiment, the ventilator,generally designated by reference numeral 36 in FIG. 5, consistsessentially of a housing having an annular outer peripheral wall 37,with a partition 38 therein on one end thereof, said partition beingintegral with the wall 37, a hollow pin 39 extending into the housingfrom the center of the partition, as well as a control member 40 which,essentially consisting of a plurality of blades 41, has the form of afan; fixed with a snap connection in a hub 42 on the control member 40is a loose sleeve 43. This sleeve 43 forms together with a bushing 44,inserted in it in reverse position, a cavity accommodating two series ofballs 45 and 46, by means of which the control member is freelyrotatable on a ball bushing 47 mounted on the hollow pin 39 formed onthe partition.

The rotation of the control member is limited to 180, namely, to theleft and to the right from the position shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, owingto the dog 48 extending from the sleeve 43 having an abutment againsttwo stops 49 extending from the partition 38 at some distance from thehollow pin, as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 5 and 8.

The partition 38 consists of alternating entirely closed circlequadrants 50 and upper and lower quadrants 51, each constituted by aplurality of concentric ring segments inclined outwardly and downwardlyand having a cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the construction of the fanshaped controlmember: the sector-shaped blades which, relative to the planeperpendicular to the axis XX of the ventilator 36, are inclined about aradius, as shown in FIG. 7, define successive passage slits 52 betweenthem over the quadrants, which in the position of the control member 40correspond with the ring segment quadrants 51 of the partition 38. Theother sector-shaped blades 41, i.e., in the quadrants of the controlmember corresponding with the closed quadrants of the partition in theposition shown, are successively interconnected by imperforatecrosswalls 53.

The control member assumes a position as shown under the influence of anout-of-balance weight 54 accommodated in a receptacle 55 of the controlmember, said weight taking the form of a pin which is a clamping fit inreceptacle 55. If so desired, this pin 54 may be replaced by a lighteror heavier one, according to the contemplated functioning in theparticular case in which the ventilator is used. In the case of apressure difference on opposite ends of the ventilator 36, a current ofair moves through the slits between the ring segment of the partition,impinges on the blades 41 of the control member, and rotates the latteragainst the action of the out-of-balance weight constituted by the pin54 until a position of equilibrium is assumed, in which the controlmember 40 is at least partly swung with its slitted quadrants behind theimperforate quadrants of the partition. The direction of rotation isdetermined by the end of the housing at which overpressure prevailsrelative to the opposite end, which means that the device assumes a moreactive throttle position in the case of both overpressure on the insideand on the outside, and according to the magnitude of such overpressure.

A particular advantage is the simple construction and assembly from asmall number of parts of the ventilator. The device may be mounted in apanel or glass pane by means of a groove formed at the circumference ofperipheral wall 37 between circumferential ribs, using a suitablepacking of suitable rubber or plastics material.

It will be clear that, within the framework of the invention, variousother embodiments and solutions relative to the exemplary embodimentdescribed above and shown in the drawings are possible in numerouspoints. In particular, instead of four quadrants, other numbers ofsectors may be used.

I claim:

1. A ventilation regulating device comprising an air passage formed inan annular casing, one half of said passage at one end of the annulusbeing closed by a division plate extending over approximately the otherhalf being scalable by means of a substantially semi-circular disc-likesealing plate in a transverse plane beside said division plate, saidsealing plate being coaxial with said casing and rotatably mountedtherein, characterized by a control valve in the form of a circular disccapable of swinging coaxially between end stops in the casing, one halfof which disc, extending over approximately 180, is closed, said discfurther comprising a plurality of sector-shaped blades, the centralportions of which are turned at a slight angle relative to the planedefined by said first-mentioned disc half, the arrangement of saidblades being such that their axial projections on the said planetogether cover the other disc half at least substantially, there beingconnected to said disc adjustable means affecting the activity of thethrust of the air passing through the passage on the positions of thecontrol valve.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner winding of ahelical spring is clamped about a hub of the control valve, the outerend of which spring abuts against a stop in an accommodating space forthe helical spring in a central bearing part connected with the divisionplate and rotatively adjustable in a bearing ring fixed to said plateand having said central bearing part extending therethrough, and this tovary the tension of the helical spring.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a fixing spring secured tothe division plate is active upon a row of teeth at the circumference ofthe rotative bearing part.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control valve is providedwith a radially adjustable out-ofbalance weight and with a track, spacedfrom the shaft of the control valve, for an out-of-balance ball enclosedwithin said track.

5. A ventilator comprising a first disc fixable to a wall, a controlmember including a second disc coaxially rotatably supported by saidfirst disc, said discs each having an axially slitted area and anaxially closed surface area, said slitted and closed surface areasforming respective slitted and ,closed sectors circumferentiallyalternatingly and substantially equally divided, said second disc beingrotatable with respect to said first disc between a first position and asecond position, in said first position each slitted sector of saidsecond disc being axially substantially coincident with a slitted sectorof said first disc, in said second position each slitted sector of saidsecond disc being axially substantially coincident with a closed sectorof said first disc, said slitted area of said second disc being providedwith spaced inclined vanes extending radially with respect to the axisof rotation, on rotation of said second disc in one direction ofrotation the leading radial edges of said vanes moving axially spacedfrom but close to said first disc and on rotation in said one directionof rotation the trailing edges of said vanes moving axially furtherspaced from said first disc, and return means being provided to biassaid second disc to said first position the biasing by said meansincreasing on rotation of said second disc towards said second position.

6. A ventilator according to claim 5 characterized in that thesuccessive control member vanes are disposed in at least substantiallyoverlapping relationship as viewed in ax'al direction.

7. A ventilator according to claim 5 characterized in that the controlmember is subdivided into a plurality of sectors each having an equalnumber of vanes, the successive vanes of pairs of opposite sectors beinginterconnected by imperforate cross-walls, and the vanes of theintermediate sectors having the open passageslits formed between them.

8. A ventilator according to claim 7 characterized in that a partitionis provided over the non-closed half which is constituted by at leastone pair of portions extending over diametrically opposite circlesectors and each consisting of a plurality of concentric ring segmentsoriented at an angle to the axis of the housing.

9. A ventilator according to claim 8 characterized in that the ringsegments at diametrically opposite positions are inclined in the samedirection.

1. A ventilation regulating device comprising an air passage formed inan annular casing, one half of said passage at one end of the annulusbeing closed by a division plate extending over approximately 180*, theother half being sealable by means of a substantially semi-circulardisc-like sealing plate in a transverse plane beside said divisionplate, said sealing plate being coaxial with said casing and rotatablymounted therein, characterized by a control valve in the form of acircular disc capable of swinging coaxially between end stops in thecasing, one half of which disc, extending over approximately 180*, isclosed, said disc further comprising a plurality of sector-shapedblades, the central portions of which are turned at a slight anglerelative to the plane defined by said first-mentioned disc half, thearrangement of said blades being such that their axial projections onthe said plane together cover the other disc half at leastsubstantially, there being connected to said disc adjustable meansaffecting the activity of the thrust of the air passing through thepassage on the positions of the control valve.
 2. A device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the inner winding of a helical spring is clamped abouta hub of the control valve, the outer end of which spring abuts againsta stop in an accommodating space for the helical spring in a centralbearing part connected with the division plate and rotatively adjustablein a bearing ring fixed to said plate and having said central bearingpart extending therethrough, and this to vary the tension of the helicalspring.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a fixing springsecured to the division plate is active upon a row of teeth at thecircumference of the rotative bearing part.
 4. A device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the control valve is provided with a radially adjustableout-of-balance weight and with a track, spaced from the shaft of thecontrol valve, for an out-of-balance ball enclosed within said track. 5.A ventilator comprising a first disc fixable to a wall, a control memberincluding a second disc coaxially rotatably supported by said firstdisc, said discs each having an axially slitted area and an axiallyclosed surface area, said slitted and closed surface areas formingrespective slitted and closed sectors circumferentially alternatinglyand substantially equally divided, said second disc being rotatable withrespect to said first disc between a first position and a secondposition, in said first position each slitted sector of said second discbeing axially substantially coincident with a slitted sector of saidfirst disc, in said second position each slitted sector of said seconddisc being axially substantially coincident with a closed sector of saidfirst disc, said slitted area of said second disc being provided withspaced inclined vanes extending radially with respect to the axis ofrotation, on rotation of said second disc in one direction of rotationthe leading radial edges of said vanes moving axially spaced from butclose to said first disc and on rotation in said one direction ofrotation the trailing edges of said vanes moving axiaLly further spacedfrom said first disc, and return means being provided to bias saidsecond disc to said first position the biasing by said means increasingon rotation of said second disc towards said second position.
 6. Aventilator according to claim 5 characterized in that the successivecontrol member vanes are disposed in at least substantially overlappingrelationship as viewed in axial direction.
 7. A ventilator according toclaim 5 characterized in that the control member is subdivided into aplurality of sectors each having an equal number of vanes, thesuccessive vanes of pairs of opposite sectors being interconnected byimperforate cross-walls, and the vanes of the intermediate sectorshaving the open passage-slits formed between them.
 8. A ventilatoraccording to claim 7 characterized in that a partition is provided overthe non-closed half which is constituted by at least one pair ofportions extending over diametrically opposite circle sectors and eachconsisting of a plurality of concentric ring segments oriented at anangle to the axis of the housing.
 9. A ventilator according to claim 8characterized in that the ring segments at diametrically oppositepositions are inclined in the same direction.